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Periodic Table of Elements

Element Niobium – Nb

Comprehensive data on the chemical element Niobium is provided on this page; including scores of properties, element names in many languages, most known nuclides of Niobium. Common chemical compounds are also provided for many elements. In addition technical terms are linked to their definitions and the menu contains links to related articles that are a great aid in one studies. Using the "Periodic Table of Elements Quick Navigation" graphic at the bottom of the sidebar menu, one can quickly jump from chemical element to chemical element.

Niobium Menu

• Niobium Page One
  • Overview of Niobium
  • Niobium's Name in Other Languages
  • Atomic Structure of Niobium
  • Chemical Properties of Niobium
  • Physical Properties of Niobium
  • Regulatory / Health
  • Who/When/Where/How
• Niobium Page Two
  • Nuclides / Isotopes
  • Potential Parent Nuclides

Overview of Niobium

• Atomic Number:41
• Group: 5
• Period: 5
• Series: Transition Metals

Niobium's Name in Other Languages

• Latin: Niobium
• Czech: Niob
• Croatian: Niobij
• French: Niobium
• German: Niob - r
• Italian: Niobio
• Norwegian: Niob
• Portuguese: Nióbio
• Russian:
• Spanish: Niobio
• Swedish: Niob

Atomic Structure of Niobium

• Atomic Radius: 2.08Å
• Atomic Volume: 10.87cm³/mol
• Covalent Radius: 1.34Å
• Cross Section (Thermal Neutron Capture) _a/barns: 1.15
• Crystal Structure: Cubic body centered

  

• Electron Configuration:

  1s² 2s²p⁶ 3s²p⁶d¹⁰ 4s²p⁶d⁴ 5s¹

• Electrons per Energy Level: 2,8,18,12,1

  Shell Model
  

• Ionic Radius: 0.69Å
• Filling Orbital: 4d⁴
• Number of Electrons (with no charge): 41
• Number of Neutrons (most common/stable nuclide): 52
• Number of Protons: 41
• Oxidation States: 5,3
• Valence Electrons: 4d⁴ 5s¹

  Electron Dot Model
  

Chemical Properties of Niobium

• Electrochemical Equivalent: 0.69327g/amp-hr
• Electron Work Function: 4.3eV
• Electronegativity: 1.6 (Pauling); 1.23 (Allrod Rochow)
• Heat of Fusion: 26.4kJ/mol
• Incompatibilities:

• Ionization Potential
  • First: 6.88
  • Second: 14.32
  • Third: 25.04
• Valence Electron Potential (-eV): 104

Physical Properties of Niobium

• Atomic Mass Average: 92.90638
• Boiling Point: 5017K 4744°C 8571°F
• Coefficient of lineal thermal expansion/K^-1: 7.07E^-6
• Conductivity

  Electrical: 0.0693 10⁶/cm
  Thermal: 0.537 W/cmK

• Density: 8.57g/cc @ 300K
• Description:

  Shiny white soft transition metal. Niobium resists corrosion due to an oxide film on its surface.

• Elastic Modulus:
  • Bulk: 170.3/GPa
  • Rigidity: 37.5/GPa
  • Youngs: 104.9/GPa
• Enthalpy of Atomization: 745 kJ/mole @ 25°C
• Enthalpy of Fusion: 27.2 kJ/mole
• Enthalpy of Vaporization: 696.6 kJ/mole
• Flammablity Class:
• Freezing Point: see melting point
• Hardness Scale
  • Brinell: 736 MN m^-2
  • Mohs: 6
  • Vickers: 1320 MN m^-2
• Heat of Vaporization: 682kJ/mol
• Melting Point: 2741K 2468°C 4474°F
  
• Molar Volume: 10.84 cm³/mole
• Physical State (at 20°C & 1atm): Solid
• Specific Heat: 0.26J/gK
• Vapor Pressure = 0.0755Pa@2468°C

Regulatory / Health

• CAS Number
  • 7440-03-1
• OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)
  • No limits set by OSHA
• OSHA PEL Vacated 1989
  • No limits set by OSHA
• NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL)
  • No limits set by NIOSH
• Levels In Humans:
  Note: this data represents naturally occuring levels of elements in the typical human, it DOES NOT represent recommended daily allowances.
  • Blood/mg dm^-3: 0.005
  • Bone/p.p.m: <0.07
  • Liver/p.p.m: 0.14
  • Muscle/p.p.m: 0.14
  • Daily Dietary Intake: 0.02-06 mg
  • Total Mass In Avg. 70kg human: 1.5 mg
• Discovery Year: 1801
• Name Origin:

  From Niobe; daughter of the mythical Greek king Tantalus.

• Abundance of Niobium:
  • Earth's Crust/p.p.m.: 20
  • Seawater/p.p.m.: 0.0000009
  • Atmosphere/p.p.m.: N/A
  • Sun (Relative to H=1E¹²): 79
• Sources of Niobium:

  Found in columbite, samarskite and betafite ores. Also obtained as a by-product of tin-extraction. Annual world wide production is around 15,000 tons. Primary mining areas are Australia, Zaire, Brazil, Russia, Norway, Canada and Madagascar.

• Uses of Niobium:

  It is used in stainless steel alloys for nuclear reactors, jets, missiles, cutting tools, pipelines, super magnets and welding rods.

• Additional Notes:

[Last update: 2/22/2007]

Niobium Menu

• Niobium Page One
  • Overview of Niobium
  • Niobium's Name in Other Languages
  • Atomic Structure of Niobium
  • Chemical Properties of Niobium
  • Physical Properties of Niobium
  • Regulatory / Health
  • Who/When/Where/How
• Niobium Page Two
  • Nuclides / Isotopes
  • Potential Parent Nuclides

Related Resources

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• Molar Mass Calculations and Javascript Calculator
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• Chemical Database
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Citing this page

If you need to cite this page, you can copy this text:

Kenneth Barbalace. Periodic Table of Elements - Niobium – Nb. EnvironmentalChemistry.com. 1995 - 2009. Accessed on-line: 11/20/2009
http://EnvironmentalChemistry.com/yogi/periodic/Nb.html
.